Picker stick snubber



March 15, 1949.

F. G. LAKE El' AL PICKER STICK SNUBBER Filed July 16, 1947 2 INVENTOR. FQANC|D 61. LAKE JAMES W.TEIMME2 ATTOQ mEY Patented Mar. 15, 1949 PICKER STICK SNUBBER Francis Gerard Lake, New York, N. Y., and James W. Trimmer, Belmar, N. J., assignors to The M. W. Kellogg Company, Jersey City, N. J., a

corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1947, Serial No. 761,379

Claims.

The present invention relates to a picker stick snubber for fly shuttle looms.

In a fly shuttle loom, the picker stick is checked by a picker stick snubber after reaching shuttle delivery position, to dampen the overthrow force of said stick, and thereby prevent breakage or undue straining of the stick at the end of its overthrow movement.

One object of the present invention is-to provide a new and improved picker stick snubber which is mounted and operated to impart minimum of shock impact to the loom.

. Another object is to provide a new and improved picker stick snubber which does not transmit picker stick checking force or impact directly to the lay.

Another object is to provide a new and improved picker stick snubber which carries a wear pad so located and mounted as to be subjected to a minimum of abrasive action by the picker stick during checking operations.

In accordance with certain features of the present invention, the snubber comprises a substantially upright snubber leaf spring secured at its lower end near the base of the loom to a structure which oscillates with the rocker shaft supporting the lay oscillating sword, and which is desirably part of the frame structure of the parallel motion mechanism of the picker stick, and adapted to be pressed near its upper free end by the picker stick during its overthrow movement to flex said spring. The checking impact of the picker stick during its overthrow movement is thereby transmitted directly to the base portion of the loom where the loom is most rigid and stable, thereby reducing shock vibrations in the loom resulting from the checking action to a minimum. Since the snubber spring is not mounted on the lay as in conventional structures, no checking impact is transmitted directly to the lay. The snubber is centered sideways with respect to the picker stick, and carries a shock absorbing wear pad adapted to be engaged by said stick during its overthrow, and having very little slide movement along said stick during checking 01' snubbing action, thereby reducing abrasive action on said pad to a minimum,

As a further feature, the snubber leaf spring is in the general shape of an inverted U, mounted at its lower end and free at its upper end for stick impact action. This structure serves to distribute symmetrically and effectively the impact forces created so that minimum of vibration is set up, and also serves to provide a rugged, durable structure which can be easily mounted, and easily replaced if desired.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the left loomside showing a picker stick snubber embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the picker stick snubber.

The drawings show only the left side of the loom, but it must be understood that the picking motion and snubber on the right side of the loom are of similar construction. The loom comprises at least one upstanding frame web Ill on each side, and a lay ll operated from swords I2 secured to respective rocker shafts [3. Each of these rocker shafts is journalled in a bearing I4 afiixed to a corresponding web l0, and has a projection l5 beyond the outer side of said web carrying a parallel motion mechanism l6 for a picker stick [1. The picker stick extends through the lay H and into a shuttle box (not shown), and carries at its upper end a picker l8 for engaging the shuttle during the operation of hurling the shuttle across the loom.

The parallel motion mechanism It carrying the picker stick I? is of the general type shown in copending application Serial No. 695,108, filed September 6, 1946, now abandoned, and comprises a frame-like structure 25 secured to the rocker shaft projection l5 for rocking movement therewith, and including two substantially parallel skeleton frame webs 26 connected together as a unit. Between the two frame webs 26 and afiixed thereto is a cam member 21 presenting a cam surface 28 near one end of the frame webs, and a surface 30 arranged substantially horizontal and lying in a plane passing through the axis of the rocker shaft I3. At the other end, the two frame webs 26 have curved cam surfaces 3|.

Mounted on the surface 30 for rocking movement thereon is a shoe 32, the lower surface 33 of which is curved as shown for contact with said surface 30 to produce a rocking movement. At its toe end, the shoe 32 carries a cam follower 34 movable along the cam surface 28. At its other end, the shoe 32 carries cam followers 35 riding along the cam surfaces 3|.

The picker stick I! is adjustably mounted in the shoe 32, and at its lower end is secured to one end of a spring return strap 40.

By means of the parallel motion mechanism l 6, as the picker stick I? is operated for shuttle pick- 3 ing, the shoe 32 carrying said. picker stick is rocked and otherwise moved to maintain the path of movement of the picker carrying end of the picker stick I? substantially rectilinear and parallel with the bottom of the shuttle box.

Although a specific type of parallel motion mechanism is described for the picker stick. II, it must be understood that as far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned, any other suitable type of parallel motion mechanism may" be employed.

The picker stick l! is operated, as for example, by the conventional type of picking mechanism (not shown), in which a pick cam, as its projecting part or nose strikes a cam follower connected to one arm of a bell crank, draws the picker stick towards the loom by means of a connection"v consisting of a lug stick secured to the other arm of said bell crank, and a lug strap between said lug stick and the picker stick.

' As a feature of the present invention, the picker stick snubber device comprises an inverted Ushaped or forked lea f spring 55 straddlingthe parallel motion mechanism H5, and secured at its lower end to said mechanism to rock there with. For that purpose, there is secured to each of the frame webs 26 an angle bracket it having one flange is? secured to a corresponding frame web 25, and having its other flange "28 extending outwardly from said latterweb 26. The forked leaf spring d may be of constant thickness, as shown, or it maybe tapered with its thickness diminishing in thedirection of its unsupported end; also, if desired, springdE may be a laminated structure with laminae of different lengths. The lower ends of the arms of the leaf sprin are secured to the outward flanges d8 of the brackets 66 by means of bolts 58'. A strip of resilient ma" terial 49, such as synthetic rubber or the like,

is interposed" between each of the arms of springs i5 and its respective flange 48 to provide aresilient mounting which serves to dampen vibra tions in spring 45.

The spring is has side arms 5! which are substantially parallel at their lower sections 52 and siope towards each other at their upper sections At the upper section 53, the side spring arms 55 define a triangle apex o'rj'unction i3 1 centered with respect to the picker stick IT, and carrying a triangular snubber spring wear pad 55 of suitable shock absorbing material, such as rubber. The pad 55 is secured'to the-spring 45 by bolts 53 passing through holes countersunk in said pad In the drawings, the picker stick H is shown dot and dash lines in extreme picking position A. In this position, the shuttle is in the box, and is engaging the picker l8. As the projecting or toe portion of the pick cam is riding underneath the pick cam follower, the picker stick H is moving from position A towards the loom, and at the same time is propelling the shuttle along the lay ii and. across the loom. When'the peak of the projecting portion or nose of the pick cam reaches underneath the pick cam follower, the picker stick i? will be moving at maximum speed, and will'be in the shuttle delivery position B shown in full lines. The momentum of the cam follower at this phase will cause it to continue in its outward radial movement with respect to the pick cam. This excess movement of the pick cam follower is transmitted to the picker stick'll, and causes it to move beyond position 13.

At position B, the shuttle starts to leave the picker H3. The picker stick snubber isrendered operative when the picker stick l'l' reaches a posi-- tion slightly beyond this shuttle delivery position B. For that purpose, the snubber spring 45 is located so that the snubber resilient pad 55 in unstressed condition of said spring is disposed a small distance beyond the picker stick 1? in position B. As the picker stick I! travels through its overthrow part of the stroke, it engages the pad 55' and bends the-spring 55 back, thereby gradually checking this picker stick. Before the picker stick I! reaches the end of its overthrow or reaches a hunter, if such is provided, the picker stick will have been almost completely arrested. In position C, the picker stick i! is shown completely checked by the picker stick snubber device, and ready to return towards its picking position A.

Since the picker stick nubber spring 35 is anchored at its lower end near the base of the loom where the loom is most rigid and stable, the impact of the picker stick during its overthrow is effectively dampened without setting up excessive shocks or vibrations in the loom, and without direct'transmission of these impacts to the lay H Furthermore, the picker stick snubber is so constructed as to effect minimum of slide movement between the snubber pad 55 and the picker stick ll, thereby reducing abrasive wear of said pad to a minimum.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to a specific embodiment, it is to "be understood that it is not to be limited thereto, but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom of the fly shuttle type having a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, and a parallel motion mechanism for said stick, a snubber for said picker stick comprising an upstanding leaf spring anchored at its lower end to a portion of said parallel motion mechanism, and located in position to be flexed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement to check said movement.

2.v In a loom of the fly shuttle type having a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, and a parallel motion mechanism for said stick, a snubber for said picker stick comprising a resilient braking member secured to a portion oi said parallel'motion mechanism and located in position to be stressed by said pickerv stick during its overthrow movement to check said movement.

3., In a loom of the flyv shuttle type, a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away fromthe loom, a parallel motion mechanism for. said stick having a rocking movement conforming with the oscillating movement of the lay, and a snubber for said picker stick having a resilient member secured to said parallel motion mechanism' and located in position to be stressed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement, to? check said movement.

4.. In a loom of the fly shuttle type, a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, a parallel motion mechanism for said stick havinga frame mountedfor rocking movement conforming with the oscillating movement of the lay, and a shoe carried by said frame and movable relative thereto, said shoe mounting said picker stick, and a snubber for said picker, stick having a resilient member secured to said frame and located in position to be stressed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement to check said movement.

5. In a 100m of the fly shuttle type, a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, a lay sword supporting rocker shaft, a parallel motion mechanism for said stick located near the base of the loom and having a frame mounted for rocking movement with said shaft, and a shoe carried by said frame and movable relative thereto, said picker stick being secured to said shoe, and a snubber for said picker stick comprising an upstanding leaf spring anchored at its lower end to said frame and located in position to be flexed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement to check said movement.

6. In a loom of the fly shuttle type having a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, and a snubber for said picker stick comprising an upstanding inverted U- shaped leaf spring mounted at its lower end near the base of the loom and located in position to have its upper end pressed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement to flex said spring, and thereby check said movement.

7. In a loom of the fly shuttle type having a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom and movable along the loom and with the lay, a snubber for said picker stick comprising a forked leaf spring having its forked ends mounted in position to cause said spring to oscillate angularly along the loom with said picker stick, said spring being located between the stick and the corresponding loomside, with the sides of said leaf spring centered with respect to said stick, the junction section of said spring being free and being adapted to be pressed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement, to flex said spring and thereby check said movement.

8. In a 100m of the fly shuttle type, a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, a parallel motion mechanism for said stick, and a snubber for said picker stick comprising an inverted U-shaped leaf spring having its lower end straddling said parallel motion mechanism and secured thereto, said spring being located between said picker stick and the corresponding loomside and in position to have its upper end pressed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement to flex said spring and thereby check said movement.

9. In a loom of the fly shuttle type, a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, a parallel motion mechanism for said stick having a rocking movement conforming with the oscillating movement of the lay, and a snubber for said picker stick comprising an inverted U-shaped leaf spring having its lower end straddling said parallel motion mechanism and secured thereto, said spring being centered sideways with respect to said stick and being located between said picker stick and the corresponding loomside in position to have its upper end pressed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement to flex said spring and thereby check said movement, and a shock absorbing pad mounted at the upper end of said spring and adapted to be engaged by said stick during the overthrow movement of said stick.

10. In a loom of the fly shuttle type, a picker stick adapted to be operated towards and away from the loom, a lay sword supporting rocker shaft, a parallel motion mechanism for said stick located near the base of the loom and having a frame mounted for rocking movement with said shaftand a shoe carried by said frame and movable relative thereto, said piclcer stick being secured to said shoe, and a snubber for said picker stick comprising an inverted U-shaped leaf spring having its lower end straddling said parallel motion mechanism and secured to said frame, said spring being centered sideways with respect to said stick and being located between said picker stick and the corresponding loomside in position to have its upper end pressed by said picker stick during its overthrow movement to flex said spring and thereby check said movement, and a shock absorber pad mounted at the upper end of said spring and adapted to be engaged by said stick during the overthrow movement of said stick.

FRANCIS GERARD LAKE. JAMES W. TRIMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,265,685 Cederlund Dec. 9, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311,449 Germany Nov. 24, 1917 488.152 Germany June 28, 1928 

